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'He can say it but I don’t think he really understands what it means yet. I can’t wait for him to know that mummy is me.

Thanks to an intensive five-day training programme, Beth has learned to help Charlie and has been rewarded with his first words - including hearing him say mummy for the first time

Speaking of how the course works to encourage speech, Beth said: 'The process is really more about how we behave towards Charlie. We copy the things he does and make sure we make eye contact and reward him when he does something well.'

Charlie was born on November 29, 2010, and developed normally until around 18 months of age.

It was then that Beth noticed her son was not hitting his milestones. He could not speak, would avoid making eye contact and liked to run on his tip toes.

Beth said: 'At first we hoped that he was just a slow developer, but I knew deep down there was something wrong.

'We had a check brought forward, but the nurse didn’t think there were any major problems.

The family are preparing to take Charlie to America for further treatment in the hope he can start to live a normal life

'He has some strange behaviour and now when he does things like flapping his hands, we do it too,' says Beth

'Eventually autism was suggested. I immediately thought the worst.

'Charlie was referred to a paediatrician, but the waiting list was nine months. I couldn’t just sit back and do nothing so I started looking into ways to help him.'

Beth found the Son-Rise Program in America, specially designed to help children with autism to live a normal life.

She went to Sheffield in Massachusetts for a five day course about how to help Charlie come to terms with his condition.

Beth found the Son-Rise Program in America, specially designed to help children with autism to live a normal life

Beth said: “A lot of what I learned was about changing my behaviour to be more accommodating towards Charlie.

'He has some strange behaviour and now when he does things like flapping his hands, we do it too.

'That’s when he started making eye contact and interacting with us. We’re concentrating on building up the way he relates to people rather than how he learns.

'I would rather he could have a relationship and get married when he’s older, even if it means he doesn’t go to school until he’s eight.'

Charlie’s parents are hoping to keep building on his behaviour so that he can enter mainstream education.

Charlie was born on November 29, 2010, and developed normally until around 18 months of age

For more information on the Son-Rise Program go to: www.autismtreatment.org